Overview
IEC/TS 61836:2007 - "Solar photovoltaic energy systems - Terms, definitions and symbols" is a Technical Specification published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It provides a consolidated glossary of terms, definitions and symbols used across national and international standards for solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems. The document is organized to promote consistent use of PV vocabulary across design, testing, manufacturing and regulation.
Key editorial features:
- Increased number of terms compared with the previous edition
- Inclusion of a list of acronyms and abbreviations
- Organisation of terms into categories and families with cross-references
- Harmonisation with IEC 60050 and other IEC documents
Key topics
IEC TS 61836 organizes PV terminology into clear topical subclauses, including:
- Solar photovoltaic cells and modules (materials, cell types, anti-reflective coatings, efficiency)
- PV system components (bypass diodes, bus bars, junctions)
- Solar photovoltaic systems (arrays, fields, system-level vocabulary)
- Performance parameters (conversion efficiency, rated power, Standard Test Conditions - STC)
- Measurement devices and normative references (e.g., reference to IEC 60904-3 for spectral irradiance measurement)
- Environmental parameters, quality and testing terminology
- Concentrator photovoltaics, project management and miscellaneous PV terms
- Index and bibliography for sources and further reading
Note: The specification focuses on "what the words mean" rather than prescribing test procedures or design requirements.
Practical applications
IEC TS 61836 is a foundational reference for anyone working with PV standards, enabling:
- Consistent specifications in technical documents, datasheets and contracts
- Clarity in test reports and certification by aligning vocabulary used by laboratories and certification bodies
- Aligned procurement and tendering language to avoid ambiguity in component and system requirements
- Improved interoperability across manufacturers, installers and system integrators
- Educational and research use as a standardised glossary for training and publications
Who uses this standard
- PV system designers and engineers
- Module and inverter manufacturers
- Test laboratories and certification bodies
- Standards developers and regulatory agencies
- Procurement specialists, project managers and consultants
- Academics and technical authors
Related standards
- IEC 60904-3 (Photovoltaic devices - Measurement principles for terrestrial PV devices) - normative reference cited in the TS
- IEC 60050 (International Electrotechnical Vocabulary) - terminology coordination
- IEC Technical Committee 82 publications (PV system standards)
Keywords: IEC TS 61836, solar photovoltaic glossary, PV terminology, PV terms definitions symbols, photovoltaic standards, conversion efficiency, standard test conditions (STC).